What’s the best way to use iron-reinforced doors for maximum security?

Iron-reinforced doors are one of the most secure entry points in Valheim, offering superior durability and resistance to enemy attacks compared to wooden doors. To maximize their effectiveness, you need to understand their crafting requirements, placement strategies, and how to integrate them into a defensible fort design. Iron-reinforced doors require 4 iron and 2 wood to craft, making them a mid-to-late-game upgrade. You’ll need to mine iron in the Swamp biome, smelt it in a Blast Furnace, and craft the door at a Forge.\n\nWhen placing iron-reinforced doors, consider their role in your fort’s overall defense. Position them at key chokepoints, such as the main entrance or critical interior rooms. Unlike wooden doors, iron-reinforced doors cannot be destroyed by most enemies, including Greydwarfs and Trolls, making them ideal for protecting high-value areas like your storage rooms or crafting stations. However, they are still vulnerable to raids from stronger enemies like Fulings, so additional defensive measures are recommended.\n\nTo further enhance security, pair iron-reinforced doors with defensive structures like stone walls, stake walls, or moats. For example, dig a moat around your fort and place the door at the only accessible entrance. This forces enemies to funnel through a single point, where you can concentrate your defenses. Alternatively, build a raised stone platform with a single iron-reinforced door as the entry point, making it harder for ground-based enemies to reach.\n\nAnother effective strategy is to create an airlock system using two iron-reinforced doors. This involves building a small enclosed space with two doors, one leading outside and one leading into your fort. When you enter, close the outer door before opening the inner one. This prevents enemies from following you inside during raids. This setup is particularly useful in the Plains biome, where Fuling raids are common and can quickly overwhelm unprepared players.\n\nFor added protection, consider placing workbenches or other crafting stations near your doors. These structures prevent enemy spawns within their radius, reducing the likelihood of enemies appearing inside your fort. Additionally, you can use torches or other light sources to deter Greydwarfs and other creatures that are sensitive to light.\n\nFinally, always keep a repair hammer handy to maintain your iron-reinforced doors. While they are highly durable, they can still take damage over time, especially during raids. Regular maintenance ensures they remain functional and secure. By combining these strategies, you can create a fort that is nearly impervious to enemy attacks, allowing you to focus on exploration and resource gathering without constant worry about your base’s safety.